TaskThe production of tires is a complex process. Numerous production steps are required in order to create them with the help of a variety of machines from a large number of materials. As a mass product, manufactured in type-related mass production, tires are also, for reasons of safety, subject to strict production and quality control, and require seamless traceability.Marking with bar codes is standard, but the properties of the tires as well as the materialhandling environment mean that identification puts high demands on code reading. In addition, code readers must meet industrial standards, which include quick and easy integration, great robustness, reading reliability, and a quick return to operational availability after a fault. SICK has developed for the tire industry a code reading system that can solve various different identification scenarios.

ImplementationCamera-based code readers permit standardized Track & Trace solutions for the tire industry To identify tires reliably regardless of their size and the position and alignment of their identification and on different conveyors, SICK has developed a code reading system (ICR880) for bar codes and 2D codes. The reading performance reaches 100% for afully visible code, a value achieved by no other reading system in this operational environment. It can also perform quality checks, such as checking the presence and size of color markings. The compact code reader is used on belt and hook conveyor systemsfor scanning from above. When it is integrated in a roller conveyor, the tires can also be identified from below. Code capture is omnidirectional, i.e. without aligning the tires. The captured images are available as JPG files for analysis, archiving and tracing.Other information, such as the position of the bar code on the tire, is determined in real time to avoid additional handling processes.The control system is integrated via a system controller (MSC800). Based on this, bar code scanners and RFID systems can be flexibly and easily added as necessary.

System can be used in the complete production process, from the "green" tire to the finished tireFast, high-resolution image capture ensures very high performance at all usual code sizes, for bar codes and 2D codesThe same system can solve more then only bar code reading, such as tire positioning and color marking checksSystem concept allows standardized solutions for tire identification independent of the system environmentThe compact design and integration-friendly system controller concept allow the scanning systems to be set up quickly. In operation, the omnidirectional image capture and sensor-driven focus adjustment ensure that markings can be reliably identified inany position and alignment regardless of the tire size. The fast, high-resolution image capture guarantees maximum reading rates. A user confirms, "We get a reading rate of 100 %. There are no more unidentified tires, regardless of how they pass the read gateand what type they are. In case of a fault, we can immediately see what the problem is by looking at the JPG image of the affected code." With its camera concept, network capability, suitability for different conveying systems, and globally available project andservice support, the code reader allows standardized solutions for tire identification regardless of the system environment. A comprehensive portfolio allows SICK to perform further tasks in the tire industry, such as quality control and personal safety to increase productivity